Vacation Illness

After a six-year break, I took a week-long trip from June 16-20. It started out as a fun time, but ended in a way that we hadn't planned.

For most of my life, vacation has primarily consisted of going to CHAMP Camp. I had seven years as a camper and then volunteered for 16 years as a counselor. I still maintain their website and promote camp whenever possible, but I can no longer endure the physical needs to be a counselor. This year was CHAMP Camp's 35th anniversary and alumni campers and counselors were invited to come on June 17.

Dad wasn't certain the van could handle the trip, but my parents, night caregiver, and I were eventually on familiar roads to Martinsville, IN. The night before we left, I noticed a green creep across my face any time I considered out destination. After allowing my caregiver to sleep a few hours, we drove 15 minutes from the hotel to join everyone for lunch.

I wasn't sure how many people would still be around that I knew, but it felt like returning home. Most of the campers were new, but familiar faces were everywhere. It soon became routine to hear "Joel!" followed by a hug and story telling. It felt very good to generally be welcomed and missed by so many. Mom concluded by the end of Tuesday that I had received more hugs in one day than I had in years. It's a shame more places aren't as excited to have you come.

We stayed as long as we could Tuesday evening before returning to the hotel. About mid-morning Wednesday, the four of us drove further east to the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY. My first visit to the museum was during Father's Day in 2015. I was excited to see what had changed in ten years, as well as what remained the same. An entirely new entrance had been made that was a fair distance from the main building. It was fine on a clear day like we had, but it would have been a long stroll through rain or snow if weather was different.

Watching weekly updates from the museum, I knew what exhibit changes has been made. I was thankful to see a large section on the sanctity of human life and how a baby develops in the womb. As society continues to advocate for the murder of the unborn, more such displays are needed. The other changes were also fun to see, but the core message stayed the same. Unfortunately, I didn't research enough and we missed the new butterfly house by 15 minutes. However, the multitude of plants in the new greenhouses were fun.

Our final day with activity was Thursday, June 19. Our hotel in Kentucky was between the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter and made for a short morning commute. My first visit to the Ark was in 2018 and I knew a lot had changed. Just like the Museum, a new welcome area greeted us before entering the main attractions. Several buildings have also been added to include a virtual reality tour of the flood and other displays. The displays in the Ark itself were mainly the same, as I assumed they would be, but I almost felt like I missed some of the information I had seen the first time. However, we did get to tour the zoo this time and see the much anticipated zorse and zonkey. Before leaving, our group watched a live show in the new auditorium. Seeing it in person for the first time, I had dreams of serving God by getting to be a speaker and teaching from the stage.

In order for my night caregiver to get rest, we left the hotel late in the morning and returned a little earlier than we would otherwise. However, I think we saw mostly everything and missed out on just a few shows. Thursday night, laying in the hotel room, my lungs started to feel sore and congested. It turned into a souvenir I didn't purchase, but definitely won't forget. That will be on the next entry as it has been a story of its own. 

Fourth Visit in 28 Years

In June 1993, I went to my first week of CHAMP Camp. It has been 28 years since my first encounter with what would become a life-long commitment. I attended camp for seven years as a camper and have been a counselor 15 years in person and this year virtually. In 2018, I also went to the Louisville area to preach for a camp friend and a few others came to hear me. The summers I was not active at camp, I have visited at least twice and promote camp any chance I get.

With nearly three decades of involvement, I have made several friends of fellow long-term counselors as well as current and alumni campers. However, camp is based in Indianapolis and many of the people involved are from that area or further east. Therefore, I normally only see camp friends in person during camp week. However, that does change on some rare occasions.

This past Tuesday, a counselor friend came to visit for the day. Cayla and I had talked about her visiting a few years ago at camp. She would stop over during a trip she had planned to Nebraska with her family. However, this pandemic thing kind of changed plans. Therefore, we got it worked to reschedule before winter arrived and another year has passed.

Cayla's visit makes the fourth time someone from camp has come to visit me, with two of them during my camper years. It was fun getting to show her my little town and areas I like to go for entertainment. Camp also gets very busy with many people around and it's hard to find time to just talk with friends and get caught up. I enjoyed getting to just talk and actually get caught up with her, even with my parents or caregiver also with us.

She started driving early Tuesday morning from the Indianapolis area and arrived around noon. By 9:00 that evening, Cayla was ready to head to the hotel and then returned home Wednesday. Therefore, she drove about 14 hours and had an overnight stay for a nine-hour visit. I have done the same drive and stay for a three-hour visit to camp. I'm thankful it worked out and that I was able to spend time with friends twice in September.

As changes in the country and my physical needs continue, I doubt I will be returning to volunteer at CHAMP Camp. I hope this won't be the last time I see any of my camp friends in person, but I enjoyed this one as a rare treat.

Virtual Camp

In June 2019, I did my regular volunteer week at CHAMP Camp near Indianapolis. It was my 15th year as a counselor and a severe struggle due to the weather. When I got home that year, and even before, I decided it was time for me to retire my camping gear.

When counselor applications came in January 2020, I deleted the email with a very heavy heart. Just after they were due to be submitted in late March, the world collapsed. Another long-term counselor had also retired and said everything turned upside down because of us. This year, applications were distributed after much delay and planning. Again, I deleted my message as I still don't feel I could be much help anymore. A week later, the campgrounds CHAMP Camp used announced overnight camps were cancelled again, so that meant no camp for another summer.

It was quickly decided that CHAMP Camp would be held virtually and new applications were sent out for campers and counselors. Since I didn't want things to turn bad again, and wouldn't have to travel, I signed up to be a virtual counselor. The first meeting was on June 15 for counselors, but last week was the main virtual camp time.

A couple days just consisted of watching a video about an activity or learning something in nature. Three days were meetings with all virtual camp. Not many counselors were off work during the day, so only a few of us could login to join the campers. The first meeting on Monday consisted of following

one counselor as she demonstrated an art project. As campers made their creations and showed them to cameras, I took screen shots and became the virtual camp photographer. Wednesday had another art project with drawing a vase on cardboard, making holes, and inserting flowers that campers found around their home. Between taking pictures, I tried my stick in Photoshop and made my own project along with the kids.

Thursday was the regular dance activity, but virtual. A DJ had been arranged, but was delayed in joining the group. After 28 years of being involved with camp, I'm familiar with some of the songs regular played and have a few in my own collection. Therefore, I started iTunes and had everyone dancing to "YMCA" while waiting for the official DJ. When he joined, he had internet trouble and gave me a link to his playlist on YouTube. I played the list as he adjusted it for camper's requests and became part of a DJ team.

While everyone missed getting together in person, I'm thankful we could at least have camp this way. Living the quad life means learning to adapt, sometimes quickly. I was able to help this way much more than I expected to and allow the campers to enjoy at least some form of entertainment. I don't know what another year will bring, but I am thankful I could participate with camp once again.

Impact

Summer is when I like to be active, and one of my regular activities is volunteering at CHAMP Camp. It is coming up in a few weeks and will mark my 20th year, 13th as a counselor. Unfortunately, I've been letting doubts start to sink in lately about the work I do.

Every camper has some sort of need for mechanical ventilation. Some require complete hands on care for everything and others just need some direction and can primarily help themselves. Without the use of my limbs, I obviously can't help with any of the physical needs of the kids. I can sit and watch, but that's pretty much it.

In order for me to go, it takes a lot of work from my caregivers and dad to help at camp as well as preparation in packing and planning. I have therefore been wondering if I really should be putting them through all the trouble and being up so much that my pressure sores will very likely get worse. The question is am I going just for something to do and catch up with friends or do I actually help?

One of the founders of camp, Dr. Chuck Dietzen, recently wrote a book called Pint-sized Prophets and I just finished reading it a few days ago. Dr. Chuck talks a little about camp, but the main subject is on the children he has worked with in his career in the U.S. as well as several developing nations. He describes how he helps these patients with their physical needs, but also remembers to treat them as children with goals and dreams. I know from experience this isn't always the case in the medical field.

It is commonly known that in Matthew 25 Jesus said that by serving others as His disciples, you are serving Christ. Throughout my years of being a counselor, I have seen kids accomplish more than they ever thought possible, and it brings back my own memories from too long ago. No, I can't help to feed someone or clear an airway, but I can be a listening ear. I have been in school where I'm the only student with apparent physical disabilities and remember what it's like. If nothing else, I can be someone that knows what life is like and can offer help from my experiences.

Yes, my body will likely be mad at me when I get home, but I will continue with my extended flat times. At least I can help work with these campers while God gives me the ability and be extra thankful for the people He has put around me.

One Dozen Years

Once again CHAMP Camp came for another year. However, unlike the last two years of just visiting, I was able to finally go as a counselor. This year was my twelfth as a counselor and 19th total years of attending.

Counselors arrived the day before campers in order to get to know the kids' cares and how to work with them. It felt a bit strange to have some counselors in their third year and I haven't met them before. It was even more the case when campers came Sunday afternoon. I had a good learning curve in new names and was thankful for name tags.

I was with a cabin of five younger boys. Only one was new this year, but I only knew one of them from my previous weeks. I loved getting to work with the kids again and see them accomplish new goals. One had the impression I was a chopping board as he would park right beside me and make his hand do a chopping motion on my arms. If I had my mouth stick, I would have chopped back, but he was fun to play with.

Due to space constraints, I slept in another building from the campers, along with dad and my night help. It was nice having our own space, but it still means you miss out on some time with the kids. Dad and I were also in charge of fishing, so that took up our morning in both running the poles and cleaning up afterward. It was a warm week in Indiana, so part of clean up included dad getting a new shirt and washing up.

Outdoor activities were rearranged Wednesday due to rain, so it was good cabin time with our campers. The zip line opened up in the afternoon and after the kids went, I was able to make a run. I didn't get video this time. but it was just as much, if not more, fun than last time.

It was a good week and I'm very thankful I was able to go. Unfortunately, I really noticed the quad life challenges this time. With fishing and going back and forth between cabins, it was a lot of work for my dad. My night assistant was also only able to get a few hours of sleep during the day. Also, on the way up, I didn't do well with traveling tilted for so long and rough roads.

I don't know what God has in store for the next year, but this one did at least come together. Right now, I'm uncertain about trying again, but I will see what comes.

Pick a State

Last week I talked about why I didn't work at camp this year. However, we did decide to go up for visit day, which was Tuesday. The entire trip ended up being about eighteen hours of travel for about four hours of visiting, but it was a great trip. In that short time, I was able to visit with several of my friends, meet a few of the new campers, and even go on the new zip line they had this year. I'm thankful that it worked out and that my dad especially was willing to do so much driving in a short time period.

Between Iowa and Indianapolis, IN, where camp is now held, there is not much other than farm fields and small towns. Since 2003, I have made ten trips to CHAMP Camp, in Ohio and Indiana, one to Chicago to get my DPS, and one to Toronto to be best man in my best friend's wedding. Through these excursions, I have become familiar with traveling in the Midwest and the ubiquitous corn field, and uniqueness of certain areas.

I have lived in Iowa all my life, but when passing some small towns, I wonder what it would be like to live there. Let's take Danville, IN for an example, one of the towns we drove through. It had many nice looking older homes, along with some that weren't, and appeared to be a typical small Midwestern town. I liked that it had a train track going through it, but what differences does it have from my town, or how is it the same? Along this same road were several houses that peaked our interest and made us wonder how the inside looked.

Another town, or small city, we passed through was Peoria, IL. Driving through, it looks similar to Des Moines, but perhaps a little smaller. The three years I lived in Des Moines the city became very familiar to me and did not seem as big at first. From the interstate, all I could see were large buildings and parking garages, not anything that particular grabbed my interest. However, if living there, I wonder what it would feel like after a short time and if it would begin to feel like home.

My mind wonders while traveling, and if I had unlimited medical funds and could live anywhere I've seen, I consider my choices. In the end, I prefer my roots of small town Iowa, but getting to know a new community, and state, could be an interesting experience, at least for a short time.

Change

This year's odd weather continues in Iowa. We had cool temps during the Iowa State Fair, and now we're starting to catch up on our rain shortage. It's a nice change from the 100+ temps we had in June and July, but I'm hoping it doesn't signal an early start to winter. We were very spoiled last year, so a bad winter this year would be an unwelcome difference, at least for me.

One month ago today, a friend of mine from CHAMP Camp, Jordan Stephens, passed away after a long struggle with Pulmonary Hypertension. Jordan was like me in that his mind was fully functional, but his body gave him limitations. He did have full use of his arms though, which allowed him to do his own cares and live completely on his own for a while. The last year we were both counselors at camp several people kept calling him Joel, so we switched name tags for a day. Every time we rolled by each other we would greet with our new identity. I don't think anyone else noticed, but it was another fun thing that happened during the week.

In the 19 years I've been involved with CHAMP Camp, both as a camper and a counselor, we have lost several of "our kids" as we say. I was closer to some than others, but it isn't anything unexpected when living with a major disability. Jordan's passing wasn't unexpected either, but I guess the part that got me most was that it wasn't known. I found out about his death from a fellow counselor on Facebook four days later. I was then able to find his information online and get it to the people in charge of contacting all counselors.

That email went out two days after I sent the information, and the day of his visitation. That meant that for those that didn't know until receiving the email would had to have literally leave the minute they got the message to be present at the visitation. I'm sure this was the not case for most people that knew Jordan, but it just didn't seem right to me for some reason. When my time comes, I would hope that my friends through camp would be informed with plenty of time in advance. I guess it won't make any difference to me, but it's still the thought that counts.

In other news, I finally let the learning temptation take hold and I purchased the Spanish learning software. I've had for a little over a week now and I've been progressing well. I made an Excel spreadsheet that allows me to average my percentage on the lessons and I'm staying around 95%. When I'm doing the different activities, it goes well, but I don't know that I could produce much just on my own. It is somewhat fun, but I'm wondering if I'll ever get to use it much. During my hospital stay in February, I did have one sitter who spoke Spanish, but that was it. Maybe I can incorporate it into VMT somehow, but I will just need to see if God has a plan for this skill He is giving me as well.

Next week Monday is the unofficial end to summer, so enjoy this week everyone!